Shabbir Ali flags off 'Maha Padayatra'

Hyderabad, Oct 20 (INN): Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Thursday flagged off the 'Maha Padayatra' demanding revival of Nizam Sugar Factory. The 60-km long 'Maha Padayatra', undertaken by former minister Sudardhan Reddy and other Congress leaders, took off at Kollur village of Kodgir mandal in Nizamabad district today.

Speaking on the occasion, Shabbir Ali condemned the TRS Government for not fulfilling the promise of reviving Nizam Sugar Factory within 100 days after coming to power. He said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao himself had promised that the State Government would take over the Nizam Sugar Factory from the private parties who holds 51% stake. However, the Chief Minister did nothing even after completing about 900 days in power.

Shabbir Ali said in December 2015, the Nizam Deccan Sugars Limited (NDSL) announced lockout of its three units located at Mambojipally in Medak district, Bodhan in Nizamabad district and Metpally in Karimnagar district. The closure had a negative impact on the lives of 10,000 sugarcane farmers. After the closure of NSF units, the farmers were asked to sell their yield to sugar factories of Maharashtra with the promise of payment of transportion charges. He said that the farmers were neither getting payments from Maharashtra factories nor the State Government has paid them promised transport charges to the tune of nearly Rs. 3 Crore. The government also did not clear Rs. 5 Crore towards Purchase Tax at the rate of Rs. 60 per tonne.

The Congress leader said that farmers were habituated to cultivation of sugarcane in about 8,000 hectares in all three districts. However, due to closure of NSF, they were forced to change the pattern. He said that the farmers did not get proper yields due to change in cropping pattern. He demanded that the government pay adequate compensation to all affected sugarcane farmers.

Shabbir Ali said that the closure of historic Nizam Sugar Factory has thrown thousands of families to the streets. He said that the State Government failed to help the employees and workers while all sugarcane farmers were left to their fate. Similarly, he said that the TRS Government has failed to fulfill the promise of revival of Allwyn, Praga Tools, Azamjahi Mills, Kagaznagar Paper Mills and Reyans Factory. He warned that the Congress party would launch mass agitation if the State Government fails to revive Nizam Sugar Factory and other sick industries in the State.

TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, AICC Spokesperson Madhu Yashki Goud, ex-MP Suresh Kumar Shetkar, MLC Akula Lalitha and other senior Congress leaders of Nizamabad district participated in the Maha Padayatra.